How to Use Amla Powder (Indian Gooseberry)

It’s called Indian Gooseberry, and it’s def the new cool kid on the block. Like, I would go so far as calling it the superhero of the fruit world.

Yup. I went there.

Indian Gooseberry, or Amla as it’s often known as, comes from…you guessed it…India. Its’ superhero-powers can give you silky, thick hair and a smooth, hydrated face. What about better digestion, mental clarity and balanced hormones? Yup, Amla’s gotcha covered there too.

We were so impressed by this little berry, we figured we should write a post describing how to use Amla Powder (Indian Gooseberry).

So here ya go…

For health benefits: Amla is packed with vitamin-C, like we’re talking 20 times the amount that’s in orange juice. This means it helps fight sore throats and the common cold! It enhances food absorption, balances stomach acid and fortifies the liver. It also nourishes the brain, supports the cardiovascular system, enhances fertility, flushes out toxins, and acts as an antioxidant to dangerous free radicals.

I told you it was cool.

So, how do you take advantage of all of these awesome health benefits? You eat it. Or in our case, drink it. The unfortunate thing about Amla, is the taste. It’s bitter as heck. Which means it’s not an ideal candidate for berry popsicles, fruit salads or superfood sorbet. However, we’ve found that if you blend Amla powder into a deliciously creamy coconut smoothie, you don’t taste it at all! (Recipe below). You get a creamy coconut smoothie AND enhanced fertility? Whoa. Life is good.

For hair benefits: Amla also works wonders for your hair. It can prevent lice, strengthen roots, reduce hair loss and dandruff and promote hair growth.

To use in your hair:

Mix with warm water until a paste forms.

Apply it to your hair, starting at the roots and working down to the ends.

Let it sit for 30 minutes before washing out with warm water.

*Note: If you have very blonde hair, you may want to try some on just a small sample of your hair first. Some people say it can darken your hair slightly.

For skin care: Who doesn’t love a facial? Let’s just say, my mom and I had a little too much fun with this one. We couldn’t take ourselves seriously trying to take a selfie with brown poop-looking stuff all over our faces. We literally ended up on the floor in a pile crying with laughter. But, not only does it have the ability to make you look like a complete fool for 15 minutes, it also makes your skin really soft. I speak from experience. Obvi.
To use on your face:

Allow to set for 10-30 minutes, and remove with a warm, wet washcloth.

If you can’t tell by now, we’re big fans of the Amla. So where do we get this stuff? Indian gooseberry is not necessarily something you’ll find lurking on the shelves at your local grocery store.

Luckily, we have Anthony’s Goods to thank for this awesome stuff. We’ve tried multiple products from Anthony’s Goods, and have been thoroughly impressed by each one! The quality and price are both outstanding, and we couldn’t speak more highly of this company. They sell organic, gluten-free products in bulk, (hello almond flour, cacao nibs, buckwheat groats, and mango strips)! So, go check out Anthony’s Good’s website or click here to order some Amla powder for yourself.

And, if you end up doing an Amla powder facial, take a selfie and tag Kiwi and Carrot and Anthony’s Goods!

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